Skift Take

Consolidating European air traffic control operations based on traffic routes as opposed to political borders would appear to be a good idea, but navigating the labor laws of a few dozen nations presents significant challenges.

— Jason Clampet

About 20 percent of flights in and out of Paris’ airports have been canceled because air traffic controllers are on strike over plans to combine European air space.

Controllers in several other European countries also plan work stoppages Thursday.

The French civil aviation authority says about 30 percent of controllers are on strike at Charles de Gaulle airport, two provincial airports are closed and some flights are experiencing delays.

Air traffic controllers’ unions are angry over a European Union plan to streamline air traffic among countries, much the way European countries have loosened their land borders. The plan will mean job losses, and workers say authorities are not doing enough to ensure flight security and consult staff on the changes.

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